Monday, February 25, 2008

CHARGERS: Ex-49er LB Smith 'elated' to join Bolts

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer

When Derek Smith was released by San Francisco on Tuesday, 49ers coach Mike
Nolan asked if there was anything he could do for the club's longtime
defensive mainstay.

Smith had a swift reply.

"I said, 'Yeah, you can give A.J. Smith and Norv Turner a call down in San
Diego,'" Smith said.

Five days later, Smith became a member of the Chargers, agreeing to terms
Sunday on a two-year contract. And the inside linebacker, who purchased his
Encinitas home in 2004, couldn't have been happier with what transpired.

"Absolutely," Derek Smith said via phone. "This team has everything that I
could want. It's a winning team. It's got a chance of going to the Super
Bowl. It has a chance at winning the Super Bowl. It's where my home is. I
love San Diego. Everything makes sense."

An 11-year veteran who turned 34 last month, Smith isn't yet sure what his
role will be with the Chargers. He said he knows the organization values his
veteran experience.

Smith began his NFL career in Washington in 1997 when Turner was the
Redskins' head coach and topped 100 tackles in each of his four seasons with
the club. He then signed with the 49ers as a free agent and had 100 or more
tackles in five straight seasons before injuries began hindering his play.
He had 98 tackles in 2007.

"Derek brings experience, a real knowledge of the game and knowledge of this
league," Turner said in a press release. "He's a physical player and an
outstanding tackler."

Smith said he left San Francisco with no bitterness ---- "It was time for me
to move on and time for them to move on," he said ---- and repeatedly used
words like excited and elated to describe joining the Chargers.

He has a young son (Carson) and daughter (Cassidy). Wife Taryn, a Valhalla
High graduate, is expecting the family's third child next month.

"We're both kind of pinching ourselves," said Smith, who plans to officially
sign the contract on Wednesday. "This is one of those things that's almost
too good to be true."

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or
msullivan@nctimes.com. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.

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